Al Marwan Group has, for nearly 50 years, been a well–respected contracting group in the UAE. This multi-faceted group includes Integrated Petroleum Company (IPC) and Al Marwan Heavy Machinery. IPC Commercial Manager Mr Houssam Dayoub and Al Marwan’s Director of Business Operations Abdalla Al Zaiem spoke with Andy Probert about the scope and expansion plans of these two subsidiaries.
The Al Marwan Group is well known for being among the leading contracting groups in the UAE. Al Marwan Group always strives towards its mission of being a one-stop destination for the construction and contracting industry. Classified as
class A contractors, the group is responsible for some of the most prestigious infrastructure projects in the UAE.
As a contracting group, it aspires to achieving the vision of ‘Building the cities of tomorrow’ by keeping a business focus
on activities that assist in achieving this goal. Business lines within the Al Marwan Group include infrastructure and building contracting, heavy equipment trading and hiring, asphalt and concrete contracting, real estate and development, robotised car park and technology, and oil-field equipment trading.
IPC: meeting high demand
Having clinched key distribution agreements to act for global manufacturers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)., the Al Marwan Group created Integrated Petroleum Company in 2004, when it became the exclusive agent for Serva SJS, a joint venture between USA's Serva and China's SJS. Since its inception, IPC has emerged as a leading cementing and pumping solutions specialist in the oil and gas industry in MENA.
“This enabled IPC to focus more on clients, products and after-sales, and has flourished ever since,” said Mr Houssam Dayoub, IPC Commercial Manager.
IPC now acts as a lynchpin between leading contractors and manufacturers in the energy field, primarily supplying
cementing and pumping equipment, acidising and fracturing units, downhole tools, and laboratory equipment.
Completely embedded within MENA's oil and gas infrastructure, IPC is much sought after by its partners for Serva SJS' cementing and pumping equipment, while offering localised after-sales servicing, support and spare parts. Cementing and pumping equipment solutions are related to drilling new wells.
“Both sides of our business are flourishing,” said Mr Dayoub, “with slightly more emphasis on the supply of cementing and pumping services, particularly for offshore projects.
“This indicates drilling activity offshore in the GCC is continuing to rise, and the latest OPEC decision to cut production has not adversely impacted IPC. Our business growth in 2023 is higher than in 2022 and fully rebounded after Covid.”
However, demand is so high that the company is all about keeping pace, although delivery times have expanded. Mr Dayoub cited one example: “A major challenge is sourcing critical engine components from suppliers for offshore oper ators. Stocks
for a specific high-quality safety-proven engine have been quickly exhausted, and delivery time is now longer. But our resourcefulness means we are working around these issues.
“IPC is exceptionally proud to continue representing Serva SJS and act as a bridge between it and clients. As the face of Serva SJS in MENA, many often comment
that they see no difference between us and Serva SJS in the quality service levels offered.”
Al Marwan Heavy Machinery
Building on these accumulated experiences and knowledge, the Al Marwan Group further expanded its business in 1978 with the establishment of Al Marwan Heavy Machinery.. Al Marwan’s Director of Business Operations Abdalla Al Zaiem explained how this service centre for heavy machinery enjoys increased inventory capabilities by stocking bigger equipment.
The addition of Al Marwan Heavy Machinery to the group’s portfolio expanded operations to serve the GCC region better, opening new branches in Saudi Arabia and Oman. Al Marwan Heavy Machinery is the UAE's exclusive dealer for new Kobelco, Dynapac, ABI, Powerscreen and Pronar equipment, and Simex, World Attachments, Toku and Jisung machinery
attachments, supplying the industry with new machinery and OEM parts. It is also a trusted source for the sale of pre-owned Volvo, Caterpillar and Komatsu machinery, among other brands.
Al Marwan's rental machinery fleet comprises over 1,800 heavy construction and lifting equipment machines operated by over 2,000 certified, seasoned operators and mechanics. With over 32,000 work orders fulfilled, the company has been the partner of success for various businesses.
The group has already been involved in numerous large-scale projects. One critical project showcasing the range and scope of their machinery fleet is the Sharjah to Khor Fakkan road construction project. Additionally, the fleet was hired to construct 11 artificial islands for ADNOC's Hail and Gasha Island project.
Long-reach booms have become essential for constructing oil and gas
infrastructure, enabling operators to reach areas that would otherwise be impossible to access. Al Marwan Heavy Machinery understands this, Mr Al Zaiem explained: “The deep excavation required for constructing pipelines, tanks and other facilities in oil and gas sites is easily achieved using these specialised long-reach booms.”
Being a leading heavy machinery supplier in the Middle East, this large fleet of in-house modified long-reach excavators is just one thing that sets AMM apart from competitors. Such expertise successfully modified the largest 80-ton Kobelco SK850 excavator in the UAE, boosting its overall reach from six to 28 metres. Additionally, the construction of the 33m long boom for the PC1600 is manufactured in-house, which puts this track-type digger among the largest pieces of heavy equipment in the industry. The company also changed
the next-gen Cat 395 excavator to become one of the largest CAT 395 excavators in the world.
Al Marwan’s fleet will boast about 15 of these long-reach vehicles by the end of 2023, including Komatsu PC850 26m, 24m and 22m large excavators, to meet clients' specialised needs. The Al Marwan Group has a strong track record of completing some of the world's largest projects, demonstrating its existing ability to provide top-tier heavy machinery solutions. The
company is currently involved in NEOM in Saudi Arabia, supplying all-new excavators, dozers, and hauliers to the megaproject.
Highly agile together
The broader Al Marwan Heavy Machinery takes its commitment to environmental sustainability seriously. Its Kobelco machines save clients a lot of fuel, making them economically efficient and lowering their environmental impact. Additionally, it has partnered with Pronar Recycling to bring a range of recycling and waste management equipment to the Middle East, which helps achieve a cyclical economy and a low-carbon environmental impact. In addition, the most recent partnership, becoming the official dealers for Powerscreen, a brand by Terex, will help supply powerful quarry equipment such as the Powerscreen Chieftain 2100X screener, which is one of the smartest quarrying solutions available today.
Al Marwan Heavy Machinery has a large fleet of brand-new machinery for rentals,
meaning it is operating state-of-the-art engines and exhaust systems that reduce carbon emissions.
The company recently launched a first-of-its-kind e-commerce platform in the Middle East, almarwan.com, revolutionising rentals and sales and providing a convenient and efficient way for users to access the machinery they need. Among its many high-profile clients is NESR, an international, industry-leading provider of integrated energy services and directly supplying oilfield operators with downhole tools.
IPC recently provided new high-standard, quality-assured skids cementing pumping units to a specific offshore operator for a key project. And it supplied 1,000 triplex units, a significant cementing unit component, to another contract client.
“At IPC, we pride ourselves in honest and open communication, delivering on what we promise and a commitment to high-quality after-sales service,” Mr Dayoub said. “These are central to
our long-term and successful supplier and client relations.”
“Al Marwan Heavy Machinery is committed to adapting tomorrow's technology,” Mr Al Zaiem concluded, “to offer convenient solutions for end-users by building on a history of excellence and expertise to become a global supplier of top-tier heavy machinery solutions.
“While commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction are top priorities, Al Marwan's fleet and knowledgeable staff will continue to set the company apart across the industry.”
